Despite challenges due to ongoing water issues, hospital staff are going above and beyond the call of duty to support their patients and colleagues.
January 10, 2025
VCU Health team members are doing everything they can to support patients, their families and each other during the current water disruption. (Tom Kojcsich, Marketing and Corporate Communications)
By Danielle Pierce
As the Richmond region faces the challenges posed by ongoing water issues, VCU Health remains committed to providing high-quality patient care through the incredible efforts of our team members.
“The water disruption reminded us of the extraordinary resilience and dedication of our team members,” said Marlon Levy, MD, senior vice president of VCU Health Sciences and CEO of VCU Health System. “I would like to personally thank every team member, emergency responder and community partner who did their best to ensure the safety and care of our patients and the greater Richmond community. Your tireless efforts during this period are simply heroic.
Video by Joe Kuttenkuler and Taylor MacKillop, Marketing and Corporate Communications
Providing high quality care in difficult circumstances would not be possible without a team of truly dedicated healthcare professionals and hospital staff. From coordinating the distribution of bottled water to setting up a 24-hour emergency command center, VCU Health team members rose to the occasion with unwavering commitment, ensuring the healthcare system remains a safe haven for patients and their families.
“Our team rose to the challenge and handled extremely difficult times with compassion, dedication and collaboration. Their efforts reflect the best of VCU Health,” Levy added.
The health system continues to take proactive measures to ensure the safety and well-being of its patients, team members and the community. Some of these measures include:
- Ensure additional water supply in partnership with local and state agencies (for patients and staff).
- Practice conservation efforts.
- Implement best practices in hospital hygiene.
As we continue to prioritize patient care and staff well-being, we also look to the future. One of our main priorities will be to reschedule more than 20,000 appointments that we postponed due to lack of water.
VCU Health and VCU implemented 24-hour operations Sunday evening as winter storms were expected for the region. The emergency command center is staffed with team members from across the health system to manage the ongoing response to water issues. (Tom Kojcsich, Marketing and Corporate Communications)